Quotes:
"We are only talking about policies not individuals at this point. We are trying to formulate a common program that will be owned up by all the twenty-five parties."
Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,' Maoist chairman, refusing to clarify
if there has been any pact between Maoists and UML to back each other's candidate for the position of prime minister and president, respectively.
"We have said why not a UML candidate for the position of president. And the Maoists have responded positively."
Jhal Nath Khanal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), hinting of a pact between his party and the Maoists on power sharing.
"It is 99 percent certain that a UML candidate will become the president."
Bamdev Gautam, standing committee member of the UML.
"We have not promised any party any position."
Mohan Baidya Kiran, senior leader of the Maoists, speaking at an interaction.
"I sent him to toilet and locked him up for sometime to show him how it smells like when environment is spoilt."
Matrika Yadav, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, who landed in a controversy after locking up a Local Development Officer of Lalitpur in a toilet in the Ministry who he accused of involved in anti-environment activities and corruption.
"Is the Minister also the judge? Who is he to decide whether one is corrupt or not? Why should one believe what he says."
Bhuwani Prasad Ghimire, president of VDC Secretary Rights Protection Center, deploring Minister Yadav for 'unlawfully' taking action against a government employee.
"Instead of carrying out political and legislative procedures at the hall of Constituent Assembly, the leaders are doing so at Baluwatar or at some hotel."
Bhimarjun Acharya, renowned constitutional lawyer, expressing dissatisfaction at the continued 'violation' of constitution in day-to-day political activities, in BBC Nepali Service.
"There is nothing wrong if parties find settlement through meetings held either in Baluwatar or in some hotel."
Ekraj Bhandari, a lawyer close to the Maoists, responding to Acharya's comments, in BBC Nepali Service.
"It will be a grave and historic mistake to integrate Maoist army, which was formed and trained for particular political objective, into a non-political and professional army."
Surya Bahadur Thapa, former prime minister and president of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP), in Kantipur.
Transition:
RESIGNED: Seven ministers – Dev Gurung (Minister for Local Development), Krishna Bahadur Mahara (Minister for Information and Communication), Hisila Yami (Minister for Works and Physical
Planning), Pampha Bhusal (Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare), Matrika Yadav (Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation) and two State Ministers – belonging to CPN-Maoist party, from their
positions.
AUTHORIZED: The Ministry of Labor and Transport Management, the transport entrepreneurs to hike transport fare by 25 percent.
ANNOUNCED: Indefinite transport strike by transport entrepreneurs protesting 'insufficient' hike in the price of transport fare and 'unreasonable' discount to students.
Agitation by student activists affiliated with various political parties, demanding 50 percent discount in travel fare for students.
ARRIVED: Shahid Mallik, British Minister for International Development, on a brief visit to Nepal.
ADJOURNED: The Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting adjourned indefinitely.
